300 challenges certainly sounds like a GREAT reason to party! And that’s what the gang over at The Paper Players is celebrating this week…Three Hundred Challenges! I’m thrilled to play along with this great group of very talented designers. THANK YOU to all of you for providing such great inspiration over the past (quick calculation) 5.76923077 years!

What better way to celebrate than to fiesta like there’s no mañana! Isn’t that just the cutest?!?

In the interest of full disclosure, I DID NOT like this bundle when I first saw it. Or the second time. Or the…well, you get the point. Nope, nada, no way.

Then I saw some samples and my interest meter wiggled. Just a little wiggle. And then I saw another. I finally sighed, caved, and ordered the darn thing.

And now I LOVE it 🙂 Yep, I’m easy that way.

Now I can really see lots of potential in it and I had a BLAST making these banners. There seriously is nothing easier. I just placed the banner die (it’s already curved for you) on some Thick Whisper White card stock and ran it through the Big Shot three times for three banners. I even used scrap pieces of card stock! I (might) tend to be a bit obsessive about having things lined up perfectly so I did worry a little about how I was going to use the banners and the MISTI together. Then I threw caution to the wind and put the banner stamp on a clear block and just started stamping (gasp). And I have to giggle at myself because the images turned out great and were SO very easy to do and difficult to mess up. Super fun time making banners!

I love how they turned out and kept it true to the challenge (clean and simple). A few details to note:

• I snipped off small strips of DSP to line the side of my focal panel with and then intentionally DID NOT adhere them all the way to the edges of the card front. I really like the look of the clean white edge peeking out.
• I added Wink of Stella directly (and all over) the beautiful DSP. Now it really sparkles like a party should!

…And the inside! Truly a versatile and fun bundle! Yes, Stampin’ Up! really put a LOT of bundles together this year and I have enjoyed every one so far!!

Thank you for stopping by and pop over to The Paper Players for so much more birthday inspiration!